MARGINAL MARKINGS

Various markings were added around the edges of each plate.

Plate 196, Current Number 233

The plate number was engraved in each corner of the sheet and was the sequential number of the individual 1d red plate. From 1865 an additional current number was introduced which indicated the plate sequence number; this differed from the plate number in that its sequence included stamps of other face values. The plate number was then enclosed within a circle so as to differentiate it from the current number.

From 1851, an ornament was added between horizontal mid-sheet rows 'J' and 'K' so as to provide an aid to cutting a sheet in half. Five different types of markings are recorded, three of which were of a design such as that illustrated above.

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It was felt necessary to provide instructions on the usage of the stamps and these instructions were engraved around the edges of the plates. The complete inscription read "Price 1d. Per Label. 1/- Per Row of 12. £1 Per Sheet. Place the Labels ABOVE the Addrefs and towards the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the letter. In Wetting the Back be careful not to remove the cement." Note the peculiar spelling of the word Addrefs with a letter 'f' replacing what would now be a letter 's'.

With the introduction of perforation, a cross was added as a guide for aligning the perforator. With the exception of some of the initial plates, this cross was placed in the middle of the top of the sheet with an additional line placed to the left of it. I do not know the reason for the additional line.